Perforating and inking machine.



No.'629,076. Patented July l8, I899. E. B. HESS. PERFOBATIIIG AND'INKING MAC mug.

(Application filed Feb. 1?, 18 99.)

3 Shanks-Shae: I.

(No low?) a T 2. 7 Q I l 3 m. 629,076. Patented l uly is, 899.

' E. B. HESS.

PERFHRKHNG :19) "HUNG WAGE-NE.

(Application ma rm 1?, 1509.,

3 Shasta-shat 2.

(In Iudul.)

on my 4 a an hm E v1 o u k h fix E M "a M 3 E N w wm No 529,076.Patented July 18, I899.

E. 8a H E-s3.w PEnFonnma All? HIKING lucnma.

(Lpplicltion filed his; if, 1599'. (lo Halal.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 14:5ATTUR'NEY UNITED STATES PATENT UFFICE.

EDWARD n. nns's, OF NEW-YORK, N. Y.,;Ass1e on ro 'rnr: CENTURY MACHINECOMPANY, on SAME PLACE.

PERFORAiiNG Ann mkmo MACHINE.-

, SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Jaient No. 629,076, dated Juiy18, 1899 Application filed February 17, 1899. Serial No."705,814.- (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.- Be it known that I, EDWARD B. HESS,acitizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough ofManhattan, in the city of New York, in the county of New York and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPerforating and Inking Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention has for its main object to provide a simple, durable, andeffective machine for datingrailroad-tickets by means of perforationswhich are inked, so as more effectually to guard against an 5'fraudulent alteratron of the ticket.

Heretoforc it has been the common practice in railroad ticket-oflioes toimpress the date given number of days from the date or stamp thereon.Frequently such time-limit tickets are not used within the period fixedfor their use, and in many instances heretofore the dates printed uponsuch tickets have been altered by the holders or purchasers thereof, so

as thereby to extend the time of the ticket,

. which was quite easy of accomplishment in consequence of the universalpractice of dating the same by means of a type-printing handtanip.

It is therefore one of the principal objects of my invention to providea'machinc whereby the ticket may he so dated as that such unauthorizedor fraud ulent alteration thereof 0 may be prevented.

To the ends and objects above noted my invention consists in variousfeatures of construction and COIIll'lllliiilOllSDf devices hereinaftermore fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l. is a top plan view of a -machineembodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertial cross-seetion taken onthe lines X X of Figs. 1 and 5. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section takenon the orbrought into operative position. anydcsired month of the year,as the first lines'Y Y of Figs. 1 and 5. Fit. disa detail perspectiveView of one of the actuators for the locking-levers. Fig. 5 is avertical crosssection taken on the line Z Z of Fig. 2. Fig.

G is a detail view showing more particularly the key mechanism foractuating the perforating-wheel and the locking mechanism therefor. Fig.7 is a detail edge view of part of one of the keys and itsactuating-piece for vibrating its associated locking-lever, which latteris shown in section. Fig. 8 isa perspeetive view of one of thelockiug-ievers. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the stripperplate andits suspending-arms. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the ink-padsupport or bed and its connected parts. Fig. 11 isaper-- spective viewof one of the wheel-actuating pawls. Fig. 12 is a perspective view,onlarged, of the perforated needle-plate which supports the ticket overtheink-pad and also carries it up upon the needles of the over-- hangingperforatingwheels. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the bottomguide-plate for the key stems or shanks. -Fig. 14 is a perspective viewof one of the key-stems or keys without its button orhead, and Fig. 15is a perspective view of the ink-pad box or holder and of the ink pad orpads therein.

In the various views the same part will he found designated by the samenumeral of reference.

Before describing the construction of the machine in detail I will firstrefer generally to some of its more important parts and to their mode ofopcrziiion.

In the machine shown there are six perforating wheels or arriersarranged. in three pairs, one pair to denote days, anolher to denote1nonths,and the ihi rd pair to denote years, and each wheel of each pairis provided with a plurality of groups of radially-disposcd needlesarrange-din the forms of numerals and some of trary device. Each wheelis independently rotatable, and hence by the adj ustmcnt of the 9 pairsof wheels of each group any desired day of the month, as l to 31 may becomposed Likewise month or ihe twelfth month, (represented lay TOO thenumerals l to 12,) maybe composed or brought into alinemcnt with the dayof the month, and any desired year from one to ninety-nine (omitting theparticularcentury,

5 which is not important) may also be composed or brought into the sameline with the characters forming the month and the dayof themonth. Whenthe entire date has been thus composed, the wheels remain in theiradtojusted positions until again reset, there being pljoyided for eachwheel a locking-lever that is notched to engage' one of a series ofteeth on the side of the wheel. The wheels are adapted to be adjusted orcomposed by means of finger-keys, there being a finger-key for eachwheel and a pawl-and-ratchet, mechanism between said key and said wheel,whereby for each reciprocation of the key the associated wheel is movedaround one step. Each Qjzfo wheel is marked or engraved between theperforating-needles with numerals or characters corresponding to thoseformed on the wheel by said needles, and the said marking orengraying ofsaid numerals is relatively such to as the perforating-needles as thatwhen the marked or engraved numerals are brought to viewin front of aslot or sight-openingin the casin g their corresponding characters formed ,by the needle-points are in their lowermost positions or are inoperative relation to the ink-pad, which is arranged below the severalsets cf'enecdles-and- 4n the-vertical plane of theirccmnlon axis ofrevolution. pad is contained within a box or holder which 5 isdetachably supported upon a vertically- -movable bed-plate. A hand-leverand suitable cams are adapted to cause said bed-plate andlsaid pad tomove upwardly, so as to carry the ticket,'placed upon a perforated plateseno cured to the bed-plate, up upon the series of perforating-needles,whereby the ticket is perforated with the desired date, and during theoperation of perforating the ends of the needles pass through theperforated plate and 4 5, into the ink-pad, so as to obtain therefrom acertain quantity of ink or coloring-matter, which they subsequentlyimpart to the perforations in the ticket. A stripper is employed toremove the ticket from the needles upon the return movement of theink-pad, which is efiected automatically by a coiled spring thatoperates simultaneously to restore the and thehand-levei; to theirnormal positions on release of the pressure upon the latter. .In theadjusting or selecting operation the keys preferably work or turn thewheels on their upstrokos only under the force of the keysreturning-spring The holes in the plate lying above the ink-pad arepreferably slightly larger than the diameter of the needles, so that theportions or fibers of the ticket carried down by the needles will formon the back of the ticket :1 series of shorttubu ler projections, whichwill afford a larger wiping-surface for the needles, s0 asthereby Theink-- wheel 6 the tens-of-months wheel.

face of the card or ticket and which might before drying soil the handsor gloves of the user. The said perforatedplate is provided with aseries'of transverse holes and a series of longitudinal holes, and theneedle-points are so disposed on the wheels relatively to said holes inthe plate that any numeral or other character on the wheel will registerwith a set of the holes in the plate and in consequence will passtherethrough and into the ink-pad.

I will now describe the machine more minutely, referring by numerals ofreference to the accompanying drawings.

1 designates a side plate which is adapted to support the upper casing 2and also the lower casing The support and the casings may be of anydesired form or construction; but I prefer to so make and mountthe'parts as that there shall be a clear passage-way from front to rearbetween the upper and lower casings.

In the side plate 1 and in the side plate of the casing 2 opposite saidside plate is supporteda shaft 4, one endof the shaft fitting in a holein the plate 1 and the other end of the shaft being supported by a screw5, that enters a perforation in the plate 2 and whose shank engages athreaded hole in the shaft 4. Upon said shaft are mounted the severalseries or sets of needle-Wheels, (marked, respectively, .6, 6, 7, 7 S,and 8".) These wheels are adapted to turn freelyand independently on theshaft 4, and the face or edge of each wheel in the example shown isformed with ten flattened faces 9 and with ten other shorter flattenedfaces 10. The flat faces 9 are perforated or otherwise constructed tohold a group of needles 11,'comprising enough in number to form inoutline or configuration a n umcral or other character, and eachflat'face 10' is marked or engraved witha numeral corresponding to oneof the numerals formed by the needles or pins, as aforesaid.

In the curved front of thecasing 2 is a slot or sight-opening 12,opposite which a row of the engraved or marked flattened faces 10 alwaysstands, and the numerals there exposed to view indicate to the user thatthe corresponding numerals made up of the pins are in a similar line onthe lower side of the set of wheels and are in position for operation.Between thewheels or disksof each pair may no placed a washer 13, so asto sitgirtiy separate the wheels and thus prevent one from turningaccidentally with the other by frictional engagement.

In the machine shown the Wheels 6 and (3 may represent the month-wheels,the wheel U being the units-of-months wheel and the Also the wheels '7and 7 may represent, respectively, the units-of-days wheel and thetens-of-dayswheel, while the wheel 8 may represent the units-of-yearswheel and the wheel 8 the tensof-years wheel. Each wheel of the threepairs to avoid a depositof too much ink at the sur- 1 is formed orprovided with a ratchet-wheel 1'4 needle-wheel 7 is arranged to controlthe latter wheel, the ratchet-wheel on the right of the needle-wheel 7is provided for turning said wheel 7 the ratchet-wheel on the left ofthe needle-wheel 8 is provided for the wheel 8, and the ratchet-wheelon' the rightof the needle-wheel 8-is associated with said wheel 8. Eachratchet-wheel has the same number of teeth 15, and the said teethcorrespond in the needle-wheel.

of manipulation of the key.

position and number with the plane faces 9 of For each ratchet-wheel ofeach needle-wheel there is provided a drivingpawl 16, that is pivotall yattached to the shank of a key 17 which is adapted to slide verticallyin slots 18 and 19, respectively, in the top of the casing and in across-bar 20, secured transversely and horizontally at the lower end ofthe upper casing 2. The pawl 16 is provided with a lug or projection 21,that bears against the inner edge of the key 17, and thus limits thedescending swing of said pawl around its pivot 22 and parallel with thekey to about the horizontal position shown. The upper end of the slidingkey is preferably provided with a button or head 23 for enliven lonerThese heads or buttons may be inscribed, according to their associationwith the needle-wheels, as Units of days, ens of days, Units OflllOlliihS, Tens of months, Units ofyears,and Tens of years. The buttonsor heads shown are arranged in two rows or lines; but the stems or barportions 17 are arranged in a single line. This is accomplished byforming each stem or bar portion with an offset portion 17, whichbranches laterally from the bar portion 17 and then upwardly paralleltherewith. The keybars beingall made alike and of the same size, bydisposing the ollset or branch portions 17 alternately on the right andleft hand sides of the bar portions 17 the bar portions 17 may all bebrought or arranged in the same line, while their upper oxterioroilt'setportions are disposed in two lines or rows, with ample room for the keybuttons or heads. lint for this construction of the key-bars a very muchwider machinewould be necessary in order to bring all of the key-barportions 17 in aiincment and have their upper outer ends proend to endand arranged parallcly in line and provided at their upper ends withbuttonsh machine of greater width would be required than is here shownand which would be ob jcctionable.

In addition to the pawl 16 0:12:11 key-bar is provided with another pawlor actuating device 24, (shown in detail at Fig. 4,) com:

arm 27, provided at its Tree end with a lifting-toe 28, that is beveledalong its vertical edge, as at 29. The device 24 is also provided with alug 30 at its lower side, which is adapted to bear against the rear edgeof a key-bar and prevent any side twisting of the said device when it islifting the locking-lever. The hook-like portion 26 is seated in a slot31, formed in the key-bar, (see Fig. 14,) and by this construction theactuating device 24 is adapted. to swing or have a pivotal motion in adirection to and from thebroad side of the key-bar, against which, itlies or hangs parallel when in normal position. The lifting toe piece orlug 28isadapted on the upstroke of the key to engage with the under sideof the rear arm 32 of a lever 33, pivoted at 34 upon a cross pin or axis35, supported in the side frame 1 and in the casing 2. Theforward arm 36of the lever 33 is formed with a notch or out-away 37 of suitable shapeto receive one of the teeth 15 of the ratchet'wheel with which it isassociated, and connected at one end to the arm 32 and at its oppositeend to the guide-plate 20 is a coiled spring '88, which serves tomaintain said notch normally in engagement with the lowermost ratchettooth of the ratchet-wheel, and thereby prevent it from turning as wellas the needlewheel towhich it is connected. The lockinglever is adaptedto be disengaged from the ratchet-tooth when the square face or too 28of the actuating device 24: vibrates the arm "36 downwardly against thetension of the spring 38, and, as before stated, this occurs on theupward movement of the key and which is effected by means of areturningspring 39, which may be coiled abouta crosspin ll), supportedin the framework, and bear atone end on the under side of the top of thecasing and at its free end against a lateral pin 41 on the key-bar.

When the key-bar isdcprcsscd, the beveled or cam portion 29 of theactuating device contacting with the upper edge of the arm 32 of thelocking-ievcrcauscs a lateral swinging or pivotal motion of the device24 about the pivot 26, as represented at Fig. 7, until the square orhorizontal edge of the toe-piece 2i. has descended below the lower edgeof the docking-lever. whereupon by mvii-y the por tion 28 swings underthesaid lever and gets into a, position to vibrate it when the pressureupon the key is relieved and the returning-spring 30 is permitted toact. Thus-it will bc'secn that on the downstrokc oi. the key theactuating device 24 docs not-disturb the locking-lever 233, but simplygets into a position to actuate it on the return movement of tho-key.The reason [or this is that the driving-pawl lb is so arrangedrelatively to the ratchet-wheel that itshallturn the ratchet wheel andthe associated needle-wheel on the upstroke of the lcey, and thus avoidthis objection that exists ioturning the needle-wheel IIU on thedownstroke of the key-namely, the liability of not moving the key downfar enough to turn the ratchet-wheel and the needlewheel the fulldistance required to bring the group of needles in register with theink-pad or to the operating position-and it this be not done it will beseen that when operating the machine there will be great danger ofbreaking or otherwise destroying the set of needles. Hence I have foundin practice that it is almost essential that the mechanism be soarranged that the needle-wheel will be operated on the upstroke of thekey under the influence of the returning-spring. In the arrangement hereshown it will be observedthat it the keybe not pressed down far enoughthe driving-pawl 16 will fail to engage with the next succeeding toothon the ratchetwheel, and hence on the upstroke ofthe key no movement ofthe needle-wheel will occur. As shown at Fig. 5, the driving-pawl in;its

- normal position stands behind and directly in contact with the backface of a ratchetthe associated needle-wheel.

tooth, and in order for the said pawl to engage the next succeedingtooth the key-bar must be moved down its full distance, and which may bedetermined or limited by a transverse stop-rod 42, fixed in the lowercasing and common to all of the keys. The upper plate of the said casingis slotted at 42 to accommodate the lower portions of the key bars orshanks when depressed. From this viewit will also be seen that ifthekey-bar be not moved downits full distance the pawl will simplytravel idly in the space between the two teeth that it now occupies, andhence neitheron the downstroke nor on theupstroke will it turn saidratchet-wheel, and the actuating device Qeis so constructed and arrangedrelatively to this driving-pawl that in case of only a partialdepression of thekey there will be no unlocking of the ratchet-wheel andllence there is no liability to disarrangemcnt of the latter. \Vhen thekey is depressed for its full dis-' tance, the pawl 16 is adapted totilt as it strikes against the front of the tooth below and which it isnext to drive, and at near the completion of the key movement the pawlwill slip oil of said tooth and take a position in rear of the same andwith the lug Ell rosting against the edge of the key-bar. \Vhcnthepressure of the-Linger isrelenscd, bar will ascend and the pawl,working rigidly at this time against the face of the tooth, will operateto carry the same and turn theratehetwheel and'the necdle-wheel theexact distance, so as to bring the next set of needles in a vertical orworking position.

At Fig. (tare indicated in dotted and full lines the operations 9f thekey, the pawl 16,

the wheels, the locking-lever, and the pawl or actuating device 24 forthe latter. These parts are in their normal positions of rest at Fig. 5,and at Fig..-o' one of the keys is shown as depressed to its full extentin full lines, and the parts carried by said key are also by the dottedlines.

shown in depressed or abnormal positions in full lines. \Vhen the keyhas risen about half-way, as shown by the dotted lines, the actuatingdevice 24: will have vibrated the locking-lever out of engagement withthe ratchet-wheel and the driving-pawl 16 will have turned said wheeland the needle-wheel connected therewith to the extent indicated Duringthe completion of the rise of the key the pawl 16 will finish therotation of the ratchet-wheel and needlewheel, and at about thecompletion of said movement the actuating device 24 will slip off of orpart company with the lockingdever and the latter will return intoengagement with the next teeth of the ratchet-wheel. full reciprocationof the key causes a turning movement of the needle-wheel C216 step or adistance equal to that-between the centers of adjacent groups ofneedles. Therefore the adjustment of the needle-wheels or thecomposition of the date-line to be perforated is effected byastep-by-step movement of each wheel through the key mechanism described.

Glancing at Fig. 1, it will be observed that at the sight-opening thewheels 6 and 6 exhibit, respectively, a star and the numeral 3, that thewheels? and. 7 show, respec tively, a star and the numeral G, and thatthe wheels 8 and 8 show each -the numeral 9,? the line thus reading 3rdmonth, 0th day, 99th year. According to the marking of the needle-wheelsand the arrangement of the groups of needles thereon at this time,

then, the group of needles on the Wheel (3, disposed-in the form of astar, is at the operating-point, also the group of needles forming thenumeral 3 on the wheel 0 is at the operating-point, also the group ofneedles in the form of a star on the wheel 7 and the group of needles inthe form of the numeral 6 on. the wheel 7 are likewise at theoperatingpoint, and also the groups of needles in the form of thenumeral on the wheelsS and S are likewise at the operating-point, andthe said several groups of needles are all in the same horizontal line.I prefer to use groups of needles in the forms of stars on the wheels 0,7, and 8 in place of needles grouped in the wheel is employed to preventthe alteration otlthedate when the figures of the wheels (3, 7, and 8"only are to be pertbrateu. For example, it will be seen that but for thestar or like checking device on the wheel 7 a 1 or u r 7 blank spacewhich would otherwise he left, thus advancing the date so many days. Thewheels 6, 7, and S are provided with groups of needles runningconsecutively from O to 9, and the wheel 8 may be provided with similargroups of needles, thus substituting a O for the star above referred to.

Preferably the wheel 6 is provided with only two groups of needles, onegroup ,in the form of a star and the other in the form of the numight besubsequently inserted in the moral 1, the remainder of the wheel beingleft blank, excepting where the faces arcinscribed or engraved with astar and a 1 to register with the sight-opening. Preferably, also, thewheel 7 is likewise provided with only fcnrgroups of needles, onegroupin the form of a star, another in the form of the numeral 1,another in the formof the numeral 2,

l and the last in the form of the numeral If desired, however, theremaining spaces of the wheels dand 7 may be filled up with duplicatesofthe series or groups of needles employed.. Both of these wheels-6 and7 are preferably provided with as many ratchetteeth as the wheels 6, 7,and 8", so that there is a similar or uniform step-by-step motion of allof the wheels.

For the purpose .of simplifying. the drawings I have entirely omittedthe needles in Fig. (3. In Fig. 5 I have shown only two groups ofneedles on the wheel 8*, and in-Fig. 2 Ihave also omitted tlie needlesfrom the upper portions of the wheels 6, 7, 8, and 8, so as more clearlyto show the preferred construction of the returning-springs for theactuating-keys. The springs for the units and tens keys of each set ofwheels may be made of a single piece of wire formed with two coilssurrounding the shaft 40 and with two free side of the top of thecasing.

ends, as 39, adapted each to .a pinatl on one of the key-bars, and witha U-shaped portion or cross-bar 39, which bears against the under Bythis construction each key is provided with itsindiwidual spring,although two springs are made from the same piece of wire. However, ifdesired, a separate piece of spring-wire may be provided for each key.

The top plate 43 of the lower casing 3 is cut away to accommodate amovable ink -pad piece or support 44, which, as shown at Fig. 10, iscomposed of a horizontal platform or bottom 45, two parallel upright barportions 4 0, and two downwardly-extended arms -or wings 47, having eacha longitudinal slot 48. Passing through the vertically-arranged slots 48is a cross-shaft 49, having a suitable hearing in the framework andprovided at points adjacent to said arms or wings 47 with earns 50,which are secured to said shaft by pins 51 or otherwise. Theunder sideof the bottom plate 45 of the device {44 rests upon the upper straightedges of the cams in the'normal conditio'n of the machine, and hence thesaid cams serve to support the said device 44 and the in k-pad carriedthereby, as presently to 'be described. One end of the shaft.49isprolonged and made angular to receive the hub of a lever or handle 52,which is secured to said shaft by a screw 53, and at the outer end ofsaid lever or handle is a knob 54 for convenience of manipulation.

Surrounding the shaft 49 is a coiled returning-spring 55, one end ofwhich is attached to one of the cams 50 and the othereud'of whicl hearsupon'the stop-bar 42.

The bottom plate 45 and the upright side plates 46 46 form or constitutean open-ended receptacle for an ink-pad box or holder 56, which, asshown, preferably comprises a bottom plate, two side plates,and two endplates, andin addition two transverse partitions 57 -58, thus dividingor separating the box into three parts or compartments, in each of whichis arranged an ink-pad 59. The partitions may be omitted and onecontinuous pad placed within the box, if desired; but I prefor to dividethe box, as shown and described, and insert, into each compartment aseparate ink-pad, whichmay be composed of felt or any other suitablematerial provided or impregnated with indelible ink or other satisboxfirmly within its housing there is provided on the under side of the boxa springplate 61, that is riveted at its inner end to the I under sideof the ink-pad box a'ndat near its forward end is provided with apin 62,adapted to a hole or seat 63 in; the bottom plate 45 of the device 44,and which bottom plate is cut away or depressed, as at (it, toaccommodate the spring-plate 61, which, as will be noted, has a downwardspring-tension, so as to cause thepin 62 automatically to engage thehole 63 when the box has been fullyinserted into its housing, as shownat Fig. 2. Byrthis con-- struction a catch mechanism or look is providedwhereby the box is unable to work out sidewise of the machine or becomedisarranged. v For the purpose of unlocking said box and enabling itsconvenient removal the spring-plate is prolonged and fashioned into afinger-piece 65, which projects beyond'the side frame of, the machine,where it may be readilylifted to the slight extent necessary todisengage the pin from its hole so that the box may be convenientlypulled out by means of the knob 60 at one end thereof; Bythisconstruction an ink-pad box may be quickly removed and anotheronesubstituted therefor, which is one of the objects of the present.

construction. In the practical use of the present machine theticket-seller will have at hand always extra pads within boxes orcontainers, so that immediately the ink becomes exhausted in the padinuse or fails sufficiently to ink the perforations in the ticket thesaid pad in use may be instantly removed and a fresh boxed pad insertedin its place, thus obviating any material loss of time, which, as iswellknown, is valuable in railroad ticketoffices and which would otherwise,have to be spent if the machine were so constructed as that the userwere depended upon for reinking the pad when its supply of ink shouldhave ,',become exhausted or insufficient for practical purposes. It alsoavoids any handling of the pad itself and inconsequencc soiling of thefingers.

One advantage of the division of the ink pad into three parts is thateach part covering onesct of wheels may be provided with ink of adilferent color from the remaining pads, so as variously to ink thetickets for the months, days, and years, and thus bring out theirperforations more prominently by reason of the contrast of the inkemployed. However, as far as the main feature of my invention isconcerned the ink-pad may be undivided and may be provided uniformlywith onecolored ink only.

Upon the upper edges of the side bars 4.6 is arranged a cover-plate 66,having screw-holes 67, whereby it may be attached to, the side bars 40by screws, which pass downwardly through said holes and engage threadedholes 68 in the upper edges of the bars 46. As shown,

' the underside of the cover plate (J6 rests upon or comes close to theupper surface of the ink-pad.

Referring to Fig. 12, it will be observed that the coverplate 66 isprovided with groups of perforations and that there are two setsofperforations for each group. The several sets of perforations are allmade alike, and, as shown, comprise each twenty-four perform. tions,which are arranged in parallel rows both longitudinally andtransversely, there being four holes in each row viewed lengthwise ofthe plate and six holes in each row viewed crosswise of the plate. Thefirst set of twenty-four holes 6 are employed in connection with theseveral sets or groups of needies on the wheel 6, the second set (3 areemployed in connection with the groups of needles on the wheel 6, thethird and-fourth sets 7 and 7 are employed, respectively, in connectionwith the groups of needles on the wheels 7 and 7, and the fifth andsixth sets 8" and 8 are employed, respectively, in conjunction with thegroups of needles on the wheels 8 and S.

As will be understood. the various figures or characters formed by thegroups of needles on the needle-wheels are so made or so disposed Withreference to the perforations 69 in the plate 00 as that the saidneedles will all pass through a certain number of said holes orperforations, it being possible to'honstruct or describe any numeral aswell as the naught or star from each square or group of perforations.Therefore whatever may be the date line composed all of the needles ofthe various groups are adapted to pass through those perforations of thevarious groups which register with or are in alinement With the needlesin use. Ldenominate this plate 66 a universal. perforated needleplate,since its groups of perforations are adapted to, receive any and allneedle-made figures that are contained of the needles, the enlargementbeing about equal to the thickness of the cardboard or paper used forthe tickets to be perforated. In consequence of this construction theneedles and the perforations in the plate are adapted conjoiutly to formor produce short.

tubular burs or projections Within the said perforations, which aredesirable since the ink which must be wiped off of the needles isthereby rubbed over a longer surface, which prevents an undueaccumulation of the ink at the face or back of the ticket, which isobjectionable because of the danger of soiling the hand or glove of thepurchaser of the ticket, the ink not always having time to dry in or beabsorbed by the fibers of the paper before the ticket is handled afterthe perforating operation. The said universal plate is providedprincipally as a support for the ticket to be perforated and as a shieldto prevent the under side of the ticket from being inked or-smeared bythe underlying pad, it being necessary in this class of machines tocover over the ink-pad as fully as possible to prevent the smutting orsoiling of the ticket,

as above referred to. Of course in cases where it is of no consequencewhether the ticket be smeared on the back or not the plate 66 may beformed with rectangular openings instead of the series of perforationsarranged in a rectangle, soasvto allow any and all groups of needlestojpass through such openings; but I have found in practice that thebest results may be obtained with the construction shown and describedand that by making the perforations slightly larger in diameter than thediameter of the pins or needles I am enabledto secure a better wipingeffect.

, At Fig. 9 will be found illustrated in detail enough to admit the twocomposedgroups of needles of the wheels 7 and 7, and the third of a sizesuitable to contain the two composed groups of needles of the wheels 8and 8. The

forward edge of the plate 71 is preferably up-" turned, as at 74, toform with the front curved plate of the casing 3 a tapering or flaringmouth to facilitate the introduction of the tickets to be stamped. Therear edge of the stripper-plate may be provided with an up-- turned ribor bar portion 7 The arms 72 may be formed integral with the stripperplate or may be attached thereto. Each arm is provided with a largelongitudinally-formed slot 76, that embraces a washer or collar '3? onthe needle-wheel shaft 4, and each said arm is also formed with anarrower longitudinally-arranged slot 78 nearer the stripper-plate,which emb'racesa screw 79 in the framework. The elongated openings orslots '76 and 78 in the arms carrying the stripperplate permit thestripper-plate to rise and fall, and owing to their encirclingthecollars 77 and the heads of the screws 79, which fit their respectiveslots, the deviceas a whole is guided so as to move substantiallyvertically in its up and downmotions.

Ateach end of the stripper-plate is provided a down wardly-acting spring80, (shown more clearly at Fig 5,) and one end of the spring is attachedby a screw to the casing, and curving therefrom downwardly andforwardlyand passing under and in contact with the crosspin 34 the otherend of the spring is attached to the stripper-plate at its end adjacentto the arm 72.

The cover-plate 66 is of a width and length such that'when it is causedto ascend with the ticket it will force upwardly the said stripperplateagainst the tension of its springs, which springs on the descent of thesaid cover-plate will return the stripper-plate to normal position 'andcause it positively to remove'the ticket from the needles.

In view of the general description which has heretofore been given ofthe mode of operation of the various devices comprising this machine, inconnection with the description of the construction and arrangement ofsuch devices and the various functions which they perform, little, ifany, further explanation of the-use or mode of operation of the machineappears to be needed.

It will be readily understood that when the needle wheels or carriershave been adjusted by the step-by-stcp rotation imparted to them bytheir respective actuating-key and pawland-ratchet mechan ism and havebeen locked with their selected groups of pins in line a ticket to beperforated may be laid upon the cover-plate 66 and the handle orhand-lever.

forced downwardly for the purpose of causing the ticket to be lifted andimpaled upon the various groups of alined and now stationary needles.During the descent of the handle the came 50 are swung upwardly. andacting upon the under side of the support or device 44 cause it and theink-pad and the coverplate carried thereby all to rise togeiher, and

when the stripper-plate is met; it likewise is caused to rise in advanceof the ticket. The cams are of such length as that the ticket is forcedn p upon'thcneedlcs beyond their sharpindependently under the action ofits individual springs, and the'tieket is thereby stripped off orwithdrawn from the needles.

The device 44. and its appendages are moved vertically up and down byreason of the guideslots 48 and the slotted opening in the top plate 43,which is exactly filled by the upright side pieces 46 of the device 44.The returning movement ofthe cams and their associated parts under theinfluence of the spring 55 may be limited by one or more.stop-' pins 81.

Although I'have devised the present machine more especially for datingrailroadtickets, it will be understood that some or all of its novelfeatures may be used for other purposes.

For some purposes it may be desired merely to perforate the paper orticket, in which case the ink-pad may be removed or omitted.

It will be apparent to those skilled-in the art that various changes indetail construction and arrangement may be made, and for this reason Ido not wish to be limited precisel to the machine as shown and describednor to a machine containing all of the various improvements-devised byme.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1;. In a perforating-machine, the combination of a plurality ofneedle-wheels each having a ratchet-wheel, a plurality of finger-keyseach having a pawl adapted to turn one of saidratchet-wheels, aplurality ot' springactnated locking-levers one for each ratchetwheel,and a second series of pivoted pawls carried by said finger-keysforactuating said plurality of locking-levers.

2. In a perforating-machine, the combination of a needle-wheel, afinger-key con nected thereto to turn the same step by step, and meansfor automatically locking and unlock ing saic wheel.

3. In a perforating-machine, the combination of a needle-wheel, apawl-an d-ratehet.

mechanism, a finger-key connected thereto to turn-the needle-wheel stepby step, looking means arranged normally to hold said wheel, a pivotedactuating device carried by said key and disconnected from thepawl-andratchet mechanism for unlocking said locking means, and meansfor auto matically restoring said locking means to normal position andagain holding said needle-wheel in its new or adjusted position uponrelease of the pressure- .wheel, a pawl-and-rat ehet mechanism for saidwheel and key, a spring-actuated lever for engaging said ratchet-wheel,and a second pivoted pawl oractuating device connected to said key forunlocking said lever.

7. In a perforatingunaehine, the combination of a needle-wheel, aratchet-wheel attached thereto, a key for said wheel provided with anactuating-pawl adapted to said ratchet-wheel, a locking-lever alsoadapted to said ratchet-wheel, a second pivoted pawlon said key formoving said lever in one direction to disengage said ratchet-wheel, anda spring for restoring said lever to normal engaging position.

S. In a perforating-machinc, the combina tion of a needle-wheel, aratehet-wheelconnected thereto, a vertically-moving linger-key for saidwheel, a pawl pivoted upon said key so to work yicldingly in onedirection of movement of said key and rigidly in the opposite directionof movement of said key, and thus to turn the ratchet-wheel and theneedlewheel oneistep upon a complete reciprocation of said key, alocking-lever normally in engagement with said ratchet-wheel, a secondpawl pivotally or loosely mounted on the said linger-key and adapted toswing by said locking-lever on a movement of said key in one directionand to catch and work rigidly upon the movement of said'key in theopposite direction and thus to vibrate said locking-lever and releasesaid ratchet-wheel, and means for restoring said locking-leverto normalposition upon release of said linger-key.

9. Ina perforating-maehine, the combination of a needle-wheel, aratchet-wheel connected thereto, avertically-sliding finger-key for saidneedle-wheel, a pawl pivoted to said finger-key and. constructed to havea hinged motion in one direction and to work rigidly in the other, aspring-actuated locking-lever adapted to engage said ratchet-wheel, asecond pawl pivotally or loosely mounted upon said finger-key andprovided with a beveled edge whereby it may pass the said locking leverin one direction of movement but may engage the same rigidly and vibrateit in the other direction of movement.

10. In a perforating-machinc, the combination of a needle-wheel, aratchet-wheel connected thereto, a finger-key for said wheel, a springfor returning said key, a pawl for turning said'ratchet-wheel andneedle-wheel step by step, a spring-actuated locking-lever adapted toengage a rai. chet-tootl1tohold said neeof the ratchet-wheeldriving-pawl.

dle-wheel, and a pawl or actuator for said locking-lever; the wholebeing so organized and arranged as that on the downstroke of the key thefirst-mentioned pawl passes behind the next succeeding tooth of theratchet-wheel without moving-the same and the secondmentioned pawlpasses behind the lockinglever without affecting the same, butthat uponthe upstroke of the key the said two pawls operate the one to vibratethe said locklever also pivoted or hinged to said key and so as to swingin a path at right angles to that 12. In a perforating-machine, thecombination of a needle-wheel, a ratchet-wheel conneeted thereto, avertically-sliding key having a driving-pawl pivoted thereto so as toactuate said ratchet-wheel, a notched lockinglever, a: spring therefor,and a second pawl pivoted or hinged to said key to actuate saidlocking-lever and formed or provided with a beveled edge and an engagingtoe.

:13. In a perforatingmachine, the combination of a needle-wheel, aratchet-wheel connected to urn therewith, a linger-key having a verticalmovement in guide-slots in the framework, a returning-spring therefor, apawl pivoted to said key for turning said ratchet-wheel step by step, alocking-lever having a notch to engage said ratchet-wheel and having areturning-spring, and an actu; ating device 24: for said levercomprising an arm. 25, a hook 26 seated in aslotin the key, an arm 27, atoe-piece 2S, beveled edge 29, and stop 30.

14-. In a perforating-maehine, the e0mbination of a plurality ofneedle-wheels, a plurality of finger-keys therefor, equal in number tosaid wheels and comprising each a bar portion 17 and an otlset portion17 provided with a button or head, the said bar portions 17 being allarranged in the same line or row while the said offset portions 17 andthe buttons or heads are arranged in .we rows.

15. In a perforating-machinc, the combination of aplurality ofneedle-wheels, a plurality of finger-keys having bar portions 17 andoffset portions 17, the bar portions 17 being arranged in a single rowand the offset portions 17 in two ro\v s,a ratchet-wheel for eachneedle-wheel, and a pawl for each ratchetwheel mounted upon the barportion 17 of each key. J

16. In a pcri'oratirig-machine, the combination of a pluralittyotnecdlowvheels, a plural- IIO ity of finger-keys having bar portionsl7and ofiset portions 17, the bar portions 17 being arranged in a singlerow and the oli'set porof the row of bars 17.

18. In a perforating-machine, the combination of a needle-wheel, a key,and suitable intermediate devices for' turning said wheel step by stepby the reciprocations of said key, means for locking said wheel and forunlocking the same controlled by the reciprocations of said key, a bedor support for the paper or ticket to be perforated, and means forraising the same and forcing the paper or ticket upon the needles.

19. In aperforating-machine, the combination of a needle-wheel, a key,andsuitablc intermediate devices for turning said whecl step by step, abed or support for the paper or ticket to be perforated, a stripperabove the same, andmeans for forcing the bed and the stripper upwardlyand causing the paper or ticket to be impaled upon the needles.

20. In a perforatingmachine, the combination of a needle-Wheel, a key,and suitable intermediate devices forturnin g said wheel step by step, abed or support for the paper or ticket to be perforated, a stripperabove the same, means for forcing the bed and the stripper upwardly andcausing the paper or ticket to be impaled upon the needles, a spring forreturning the said bed or support to normal position, and a spring forreturning the stripper and causing it to withdraw the paper or ticketfrom the needles.

21. In a perforatirig-machine, the combination of a needlewheel, a key,and a pawl-andratchetmechanism for turningsaid wheel step by step, alocking-levers .id a pawl therefor mounted to move with said key, a bedor support for the paper or ticket to be perforated, and means forforcing the bed upwardly and causing the paper or ticket to be impaledupon the needles.

In a perforating-machine, the combination of a needle-Wheel, a key forturning said wheel step by step, a locking deviceacting automatically tohold said wheel at the end of each step-by-step movement, and ato-andfro-movable bed adapted to support the paper or ticket to beperforated and to cause the same to be impaled upon the selected groupofneedles. 1 1 v 23. Ilia perforating-niachine, the combination of aneedle-wheel, a key for turning said wheel step by-step, a locking-leverfor holding said wheehanda to-and-fro-movable paper or ticket carryingbed or support.

24. In a perforating-machine, the combinathe needles after the selectionand locking of.

the desired group of needles.

25. In a perforating-maehine, the combination of a needle-wheel,a.ratchet-wheel qonnected thereto, a key havinga driving-pawl for saidratchet-wheel, a spring-actuated lever adapted to lock saidratchet-wheel, a pawl carried by said key adapted to actuate and unlocksaid lever, a paper or ticket support or bed, and means for forcing thesame upwardly and inipaling the paper or ticket upon the selected andlocked group of needles.

20. In a perforating-machine, the combination of, a needle-wheel, meansfor turning the same step by step through the agency of a linger key,means for locking said wheel, means for unlocking said wheel through theagency of said linger-key, and means for forcing the paper or ticketupwardly and impaling it upon the selected and locked group of needles,

27. In a perforating-machine, the combination of a needle-wheel, a keymechanism for turning the same step by step', a locking devicecontrolled by said key, a vertically-movable paper or ticket bed orsupport, and a lever for forcing the same upwardly and cansing the paperor ticket to be impaled upon the selected and locked group of 43661163.

28. In a perforating-machine, the combinationof a needle-wheel, a keyfor rotating the same step by step, aloeking device controlled by saidkey for holding the needle-wheel in its adjusted position, a paper orticket bed or support guided to move toand from said needles in avertical path, one or more cams and a hand-lever for lifting said bed orsupport, anda spring for returning said devices.

29. In a perforatirig-machine, the combination of, a needle-wheel, a keyfor rotatingthe samestep by step, a locking device controlled by saidkeyfor holding the needle-wheel in its adjusted position, a paper or ticketbed or supportguided to more to and from said needles in a verticalpath, a stripper also guided to move to and from said needles inavertical path, a spring for returning said stripper, one or more camsand a hand-lever for liftingsaid bed or support, and a spring forreturning the latter. 1

30. In a perforating-machine, the combinationot' a needle-wheel, a keyfor rotating thesame stepbystep, a locking device controlled by said keyfor holding the needle-wheel in its adjusted position, a paper or ticketbed or support having vertically-arranged ,and 1011- gitudinally-slottedguide-arms, a pin or shaft within the slotted portions of said arms, andmeans for raising and lowering said bed or support.

31. In a perf rating-machino, the combination of a needle-wheel, a keyfor rotating the same step by step, a locking device controlled by saidkey for holding the needle-wheel in its adjusted position, a paper orticket bed or support having vertically-arrangcdandlongitudinally-slotted guide-arms, a pin or shaft within the slottedportions of said arms, one or more cams and a hand-lever on said shaftfor lifting said bed or support, and a spring for returning the latter.

32. In a perforating-maehine, the combination of a needle-wheel, akeyfor rotating the same step by step, a locking device controlled bysaid key for holding the needle-wheel in its adjusted position, a paperor ticket bed or support comprising a bottom plate, side bars, a topplate, through which the needles pass, and a pair oflongitudiually-slotted arms, a shaft passing through the slottedportiops of said arms, one or more cams and a hand-lever on said shaftfor lifting said bed or support, and a returning-spring for the latter.

33. In a perforating-machine, the combination of anecdle-whecl, a keyfor rotating the same step by step, a locking device controlled by saidkey for holding the needle-wheel in its adjusted position, a paper orticket bed or support consisting of a bottom plate, a top plate, twoside bars and downwardly-projeetin g slotted arms, a shaftcoiiperatingwith the slotted portions of said arms, one or more cams and ahand-lever on said shaft for lifting said bed or support, a spring forreturning the same, a strippewplate having a pair of arms each of whichis provided with two longitudinal slots, guiding devices on the framework cooperating with said slots, and a spring or springs for returningsaid stripper-plate.

234:. In a perforating-machinc, the combination of a needle-wheel, a keyfor rotating the same step by step, a locking device controlled by saidkey for holding the needle-wheel in its adjusted position, a paper orticket bed or support, means for raising and lowering the same, astripper-plate having side arms each of which is formed with an upperslot and a lower slot, both arranged longitudinally 0'1: said arms,collars or hubs on the needle-wheel shaft fitting within the upper pairof slots, and fixed pins or screwslitting within the lower pairof slotswhereby the stripper- )late is guided to move vertically to and from thesaid needles.

35. In a perforating-machine, the combination of a needle-wheel, a keyfor rotating the same step by step, a locking device controlled by saidkey for holding the needle-wheel in its adjusted position, a paper orticket bed or support having a universal perforated plate, and means forraising and lowering the same.

131;. In a perforatirig-machine, the combiua tion of a needle-wheel, akey for rotating the same step by step, a locking device controlled bysaid key for holding the needle-wheel in its adjusted position, a paperor ticket bed or support provided with a universal perforated plate, acam or cams and a hand-lever for raising and lowering the bed orsupport,a spring for returning said bed or support, and means forguiding the latter in a vertical path in its movements to and fromthc'selected group of needles.

37. In a perforating-machine,the combination of a needle-wheel, a keyfor rotating the same step by step, alocking device controlled by saidkey for holding the said needle-wheel in its adjusted position, a paperor ticket bed or support provided with a universal perforated plate, acam or cams and a hand-lever for raising and lowering the bed orsupport, a spring for returning said bed or support, means fol-guidingthe latter in a vertical path in its movements to and from the selectedgroup of needles, a stripper-plate adapted to be lifted by the saiduniversal perforated plate, a spring or springs for returning saidstripper-plate, and means for guiding the lat;- ter in a vertical pathduringits up-and-down movements.

In aperforating-machine, the combination of a needle-wheel, a key, andpawl-andratchet mechanism for rotatin g the same step by step,'a ticketor paper bed or support, means for raising the latter to impale thepaper or ticket upon the needles, means for returning the bedor support,and a stripper for removing the paper or ticketfrom the needles.

39. In aperforating-machine, the combination of a needle-wheel, a key,and pawl-andratehet mechanism for rotating the same step by step, apaper or ticket bed or support, a cam or cams and a hand-lever forraising the same, a spring for returning the bed or sup port, and astripper.

40. In a perforating-machine, the combination of a needle-wheel, aticket bed or support comprising a bottom plate, a top universalperforated plate, sidebars andlongitudinallyslotted guide-arms, a shaftpassing through the slots in said guide-arms, a cam or cams and ahand-lever on said shaft, a returningspring for the latter devices, anda spring-actuated stripper-plate.

4-1. In a pcrforatirig-machine, the combi nation of a needle-wheel, akey, a pawl-andratchet mechanism between said key and said when], for rnating the latter step by step, a locking-lever, a pawl on said key foractuating said lever in one direction, a spring for actuating it in theopposite direction, and a vertically-movable ticket or paper-bed orsupport adapted in its upward movement to impale the paper or ticketupon the selected group of needles.

'12. In a perforating-maehiuc, the combination of a needle-wheel, a key,a pawl-andratchet mechanism between said key and said wheel for rotatingthe latter step by step, a locking-lever, a. pawl on said key foractuat- ITO ing said lever in one direction, a spring for actuating itin the opposite direction, a vertically-movable ticket or paper bed orsupport, a cam or cams and a hand-lever for raising said bed or support,and a spring for lowering the same. v

48. In a perforating-macliine, the combinatic n of a needle-wheel, afinger-key connected thereto to turn the same step by step, means forautomatically locking andunlocking said wheel, and a to-and-fro-movableink-pad.

44. In a perforating and inking machine, the combination of aneedle-wheel, a fingerkey connected thereto to turn the same step -bystep, means for automatically locking and unlocking said wheel, aninking-pad, a coverplate therefor, andmeans for raising the inkpad aiidcover-plate and im paling the paper or ticket upon the needles andcausing the needles simultaneously to enter the ink-pad.

45. In a perforating and inking machine,

the combination of a needle-wheel, a fingerkey connected thereto to turnthe same step by step, locking means arranged normallyto hold the saidwheelstationary, an actuating device operated by said key for unlockingsaid locking means, means for automatically restoring said locking meansto normal position to again hold said needle-wheel in its new oradjusted position upon release of the pressure upon the finger-key, anda to-andf ro-movable inking-pad-provided with a coverplate adapted tosupport the paper or ticket and carry the same up upon the needles dur;

ing the upward movement of said pad, and cover-plate.

46. In a perforating and inking machine,

the combination of aneedle-wheel, a' fingerkey connected thereto to turnthe same step by step, a locking-lever adapted to hold said wheel, apawl connected to said finger-key for actuating said leverio releasesaid wheel, a spring for rcstoring'said'locking-lever to normal engagingposition, and a t-Q-and-fromovable inking-pad provided with acoverplate. Y

47. In a perforating and inking machine, the combination of aneedle-wheel, a finger keyand pawl-and-ratcliet mechanism for turn ingsaid wheelstep by step, a locking-lever for said needle-wheel, a pawlfor moving said lever in one direction to release said needlewheel, aspring for moving said lever in the opposite direction to relock saidwheel, a vertically-movable bed or support, an ink-pad, a cover-platecarried thereby, and means for raising and lowering said bed or supportand its appurtenances.

49. In a perforating and inking machine,

the combination of a needIe-wheel,aheyand pawl-and-raichet mechanism forrotating the same step by step, a paper or ticket bed or supportprovided with guides to-cause it to move in a vertical path, an ink-padmounted upon said bed and provided with a coverplate, one or more camsand a hand-lever, and areturning-spring. l

50. In a perforating and hiking machine,

the combination of a needle-wheel, a key and pawl-and-ratchet mechanismfor rotating the samestep bystep, a paper or ticket bed or supportconstructed to form .a housing, an in king-pad within said housing, acover-plate for said inking-pad,"aca1n orcamsandahandlever for raisingsaid bed or support and its appurtenances, and a spring for restoring itto normal position.

51. In a perforating and inking machine,

the combination of a needle-wheel, a paper 1 or ticket bed or supportcomprisingabottom platefa cover-plate and side bars, and an inkpad boxadapted to be slid into and out of the space formed by said top andbottom plates and side-bars. I

52. In a perforating'and inking machine, the combination of aneedle-wheel, a bed or support comprising a bottom plate, top plateandside bars, an ink-pad box adapted to be slid in and out of the spaceformed by said members, and a catch mechanism for holding said boxwithin said space. I

53. In a. perforating and inking machine,

the combination of a needle-wheel, a ticket or paper bed or supportcomprising a bottom plate, a cover-plate and side bars, an ink-pad boxadapted to be slid into and out of the space formed by said members andprovided with a knob or finger-piece,and a spring-catch. '54. In aperforating-machine, the combination of a plurality of needle-wheels, afingerkey for each wheel, intermediate devices for rotating said wheelstep by step, means for locking said wheels in their adjusted positions,a to-and-fro-movable ink-pad and a cover-plate therefor adapted 'tosupport the paper or ticket and to impale the same upon the selectedgroups of needles while at the same time permitting the needles to enterthe pad below.

55. In a perforating-machine, the combinationof a plurality ofneedle-wheels arranged in pairs, and a partitioned ink-pad box,containing in each subdivision a padadapted to each pair of wheels. V

56. In a perforating-machine, the combination of a plurality ofneedle-wheels each provided with a separate key-actuating mechanism and'also with a locking mechanism controlled by said key mechanism, ato-and-fromovable inking-pad, and a universal perforated cover-platemovable with said pad.

57. In a perforating-machine, the combination of a-plurality of pairs ofneedle-wheels,

a key mechanism for rotating each wheel independently of its fellow, alocking mechanism for each said wheel, a vertically-movable i bed orsupport, an inking-pad fitted thereupon and havingauniversal perforatedcoverplate, one or more cams andahand-lever for raising said bed orsupport, a spring for returning it to normal position, andastripperplate arranged between the needle-wheels and the universalperforatedcover-plate.

' 58. In a perforating and inking machine, the combination of aplurality of need1ewheels, a plurality of finger-keys adapted to rotatesaid wheels individually and thus to compose a dateline, a plurality oflocking devices for automatically locking said wheels as they arecomposed, an inking-pad, a paper or ticket support thereover, and meansfor raising the latter and the inking-pad and impaling the paper orticket upon the composed line of needles and simultaneously causing theneedles to enterthe pad.

59. In a perforating and inking machine, the combination with aneedle-wheel, of an ink-pad and a universal perforated plate, theperforations of which are slightly larger in diameter than the diameterof the needles,

whereby the perforated portions of the paper or ticket may he forceddown into the perforations in the universal plate and form tobular bursor elongated wiping portions for the needles. I

(30. In a perforating and inking machine, the combination with aplurality of groups of needles, of an ink-pad and a universal perforatedplate, the perforations of which areslightly larger in diameter than thediameter of the needles, whereby the perforated portions of the paper orticket may be forced down into the perforations in the universal plateand form tubular burs or elongated wiping portions for the needles. .4

Signed at the borough of Manhattan, in the city of New York, in thecounty of New York and State of New York, this 15th day of F ebruary, A.D. 1899.

EDWARD n. HESSt Witnesses PAUL ARMrrAoE, K. V. DONOVAN.

